EU Commissioner of Environment Janez Potocnik warns against the overuse and waste of valuable natural resources, saying it is threatening to produce a fresh economic crisis, the Guardian reported. According to the report, Potocnik believes that such misuse could potentially drive the already struggling eurozone into a deeper recession, driven by the need to hike the prices of key resources, energy and raw materials. Related stories: Study: Clean energy costs no more in long run EU launches €10M desalination bid in Gaza "It's very difficult to imagine (lifting Europe out of recession) without growth, and very difficult to imagine growth without competitiveness, and very difficult to be competitive without resource efficiency," he said. Potocnik said that consumers and businesses must take action and use resources – from energy, water and food to raw materials and precious metals – more responsibly. "We have simply no choice. We have to use what we have more efficiently, or we will fail to compete. Resource efficiency is a real competitiveness issue for European companies," he said. Potocnik further urged to "mainstream" the use of natural resources as part of responsible economic practices in Europe. "I was taught that water was a free commodity, like air. We really do need to have the internalization of these costs," he said. The European Union Environmental Commission is currently exploring imposing changes on various regulations, to "ensure the efficient use of energy, water and raw materials… to safeguard the EU's natural resources for the future," the report said. AFP contributed to this report Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter